ABSTRACT
This chapter describes general features of ahar-pyne, traditional irrigation systems in southern Bihar State. The system has been utilized for centuries to supplement irrigation water for rice cultivation in wet season. It shares similarities with tank irrigation system in southern India and has a variety of types in size and operation, ranging from a small communal system to a large cross-district facility developed under the zamindari system. Today, their importance is declining in general with the introduction of modern irrigation techniques such as canal and tube well irrigation. However, it is still significant in some areas where water resources are insufficient for agriculture. In order to identify the present geographical distribution of ahar-pyne, Principal Component Analysis was applied to the data of irrigated areas by block and water source based on Village Level Amenity Data (2001). The results show the system is characteristic to regions where infrastructure and modern irrigation techniques are less developed and utilization of surface water is predominant over groundwater use. Such blocks are largely found in and around Gaya District. According to the area’s 1:50,000 topographic maps published in the late 1980s, they are mainly located in the upper part of the southern Ganges alluvial plain with permeable riverbeds at the foot of Chota Nagpur Plateau. Some examples of ahar-pyne structures are illustrated with brief descriptions of their socio-economic settings and management systems.
